My daughter & I had a wonderful experience, travelling India with this Travel company. The whole experience was expertly planned & coordinated, so that we were beautifully taken care of. We were supported & cared for every step of the way. Our hotels were beautiful & our driver & guides made the whole experience magical from beginning to end. The representatives for this company were also friendly,helpful & supportive. We will definitely use this Travel Company again, due their expert attention …

Mrs Celeste C Pearson

Hello Gouri,

I wanted to write to you say what an amazing holiday we have just had in Kerela. The organisation was outstanding, everything was planned very well. we were met at every point of the journey by your representatives. This makes for a very relaxed holiday knowing that everything is being taken care of. The guides were knowledgable and very nice people to spend time with. I must point out that the lady who guided us in Cochin was excellent. This leads me to Robert our driver – he w…

Mrs and Mr Toker

Hi Rajiv
The trip was great all went very well, the driver was great, and hotels all lovely
Many thanks for your advice and help
We will be looking at a trip to India early in the new year and you give me some ideas and costs please 14 Nights

Mr A S Kerr and Mr R Kendhammer

A huge “Thank you!” for arranging our April trip to the Golden Triangle and Shimla. The holiday exceeded our expectations and your arrangements helped to erase any anxieties.
Pride of place goes to the excellent service you offered; from the booking, throughout the trip, and the fact that you were always easy to reach and speedy in your responses.
The home stay in Delhi, though basic, was clean and the food very good.
Our driver, Rishi: I have already read other reviews rightfully singi…

Steve & Nicky

We wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our trip to India. From our first conversation with you until our return home.The hotel, Palace on Wheels train,and sites were exceptional. The service and warm heart of the Indian people_______________was SUPER.
The special attention that we received from our guide Girish and our driver Rishi was exceptional. They deserve a raise. I left my carry on suit case at the train and they were more upset than I was (if that was possible because we had al…

Bruno and Johnye Tarabocchia

Dear Rajiv
Just wanted to say that we really enjoyed our golden triangle tour of India. You and your team have been excellent and a big thank you from all of us. Right from when we landed at Delhi airport when Girish came to welcome us, to the ever reliable Rishi, the driver; all your local travel agents and the tour guides had been really fantastic. I would particularly mention your local agents at Jaipur, particularly Mr Bharat, who were a big help when our flight from Jaipur to Mumbai was …

Dr Leo Pinto and Family

Hi Rajiv
Happy New Year to you, hope all is well with you.
We are back from our tour of Sri Lanka and break in Dubai.
We had a wonderful time in Sri Lanka and the whole tour went very well, all according to itinerary that you had arranged. Our sincere thanks also go to the driver/guide Mr Lal Mendes . He made the whole journey very memorable.
Thanks again for arranging this holiday and we would definitely contact you for our next trip abroad and if we ever decide to return to Sri Lanka , a…

Mr and Mrs Jokhiya

I apologise for not sending this sooner but we wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our recent holiday.
All the organisation was first class, as usual. Our guides, especially the one in Kochi, were excellent and our driver was very friendly and helpful.
We really enjoyed the boat on the backwaters and the food was some of the best we had all holiday.
Please accept our sincere thanks once again for organising a great 4th holiday.
Best Regards
Sue and …

Sue and Howard Scott

Hi Gouri

Thank you for that.

We had a great trip and were very happy with the service and the guides. This was our 4 trip with Tailormade Journeys and We loved Mynamar especially.

Karen wanted to get in touch with the nice guide we had in Bagan. Could you ask let us have his name and email address.

Thank you.

Kind regards

Jurgen

Mrs and Mr Blanckenburg

Hello Rajiv,
I wanted to write to you say what an amazing holiday we have just had in Kerela. The organisation was outstanding, everything was planned very well. we were met at every point of the journey by your representatives. This makes for a very relaxed holiday knowing that everything is being taken care of. The guides were knowledgable and very nice people to spend time with. I must point out that the lady who guided us in Cochin was excellent. This leads me to Robert our driver – he …

Mrs and Mr Toker

OVERVIEW

A vast and immensely varied land, China defies a simple definition. It is a world of remarkable contrasts and a virtual universe unto itself. Chinais home to world’s oldest recorded history, a rich and endlessdiversity of spectacular scenery and ancient cultures that beliebelief.

Rarely is so much wonder found within the boundaries of one country.Increasingly engaging the outside world after decades of isolation, China now awaits you. Immense in scale, resplendent in culture and famous of cuisine, China is an essential destination that will both amaze you and leave you with an aching thirst for more.

StandardChinese (Mandarin) is spoken by 96% of the population. Cantonese inSouthern Guangdon, Hong Kong and Macau. Various dialects and minoritylanguages spoken throughout the nation. Tibetan languages in TibetAutonomous Region and Turkic languages in Xinjiang Province. English isgenerally not largely understood outside major hotels and tourist areas.

Entry visas are required for China and Tibet. British passport holders do not require a visa for Hong Kong or Macau.

Climate

China stretches some 5,026 kilometres (3,123 mi) across the East Asian landmass bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam in a changing configuration of broad plains, expansive deserts, and lofty mountain ranges, including vast areas of inhospitable terrain. The eastern half of the country, its seacoast fringed with offshore islands, is a region of fertile lowlands, foothills and mountains, deserts, steppes, and subtropical areas. The western half of China is a region of sunken basins, rolling plateaus, and towering massifs, including a portion of the highest tableland on earth.

The vastness of the country and the barrenness of the western hinterland have important implications for defense strategy. In spite of many good harbors along the approximately 18,000-kilometer coastline, the nation has traditionally oriented itself not toward the sea but inland, developing as an imperial power whose center lay in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River on the northern plains. China also has the Tibetan Plateau, a very large, high altitude plateau, to the south. To the north of the Tibetan Plateau lie the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts, which stretch from the extreme northwest eastward through Mongolia.

The People’s Republic of China is one of the world’s largest countries in total area behind Russia and Canada, and very similar to the United States. Whether China or the United States is the third largest country in the world in total area is related to (a) the validity of claims by the PRC on territories such as Taiwan, Aksai Chin, Trans-Karakoram Tract, and South Tibet (Aksai Chin and Trans-Karakoram Tract also claimed by India), and (b) how the total size of the United States is calculated: The CIA’s The World Factbook gives 9,826,630 sq km,the United Nations Statistics Division gives 9,629,091 sq km ,and the Encyclopedia Britannica gives 9,522,055 sq km. Figures for the size of China differ slightly depending on where one draws a number of ill-defined boundaries. The official figure by the People’s Republic of China is 9.6 million square kilometers. The Republic of China based in Taiwan but claiming to be the government of China puts this figure at 11 million square kilometers, but this includes Mongolia a state whose sovereignty has been recognized by the PRC. China’s contour is reasonably comparable to that of the United States and lies largely at the same latitudes. The total area is estimated to be 9,758,801 sq km, with land accounting for 9,326,410 sq km and water for 270,550sq km (around 3 percent).

CHINESE VISA APPLICATION SERVICE CENTRE IN LONDON

Visa Requirements

Tourist visa (L-Visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to china for Tourist purpose.

Each applicant must require as follows:

One completed visa application form
Original passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of application and sufficient blank visa pages.
A photocopy of the information pages from each passport.
A letter issued by the travel agency organizing the tour, the content of which should mainly include the group number and the itinerary of the tour, you should make an appointment online in advance via the centre’s website before submission.
Regular visa processing time is 4 working days and express visa processing time is 3 working days.
Tourist Visa fees : £ 90.00 GBP + Service Fees : £ 35.25 ( vat inclusive)

Please Note : Please apply for a visa about one month in advance of your intended date of entry into China.

Note: The above is only for information purpose. Visa requirement might be changed by the concerned embassy, hence kindly visit the embassy website or speak to the concerned authority before applying for the visa.

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Local laws and customs

There are severe penalties in China for drugs offences. These include the death penalty, which was imposed on a British national who was executed in China for a drugs offence in December 2009.

Foreign nationals are required to carry their passports with them at all times as the Police carry out random checks; failure to produce your ID can lead to a fine or detention.

There are restrictions on undertaking certain religious activities, including preaching and distributing religious materials. The Falun Gong movement is banned in China.

Homosexuality is not illegal although there are no laws specifically protecting the rights of homosexuals.

What To See

Beijing
The political capital, once an imperial palace city, is now a bustling and congested metropolis of 12 million people housing China’s best tourist attractions – The Great Wall, Tian An Men Square, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace.

Xian
This former capital was once the starting point of the legendary Silk Road. It is also home to the famed Terracotta Warriors, built to protect Emperor Qinshihuang in the afterlife.
Suzhou & Hangzhou
These cities, both in close proximity to Shanghai, are two of China’s most pleasant and attractive. Hangzhou life centres on the stunningly beautiful West Lake area whilst Suzhou is at the heart of traditional garden architecture in China.

Shanghai
Shanghai grew from a small port town into Asia’s ‘Paris’ in the 1920’s and is now a financial centre rivalling Hong Kong and Singapore.

The South West
The provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan boast some of China’s most stunning natural scenery. Heavily influenced by their proximity to the Tibetan Plateau they are home to many ethnic minorities with their individual cultures and traditions. Sichuan is also the habitat of the endangered Giant Panda.
Tibet, the “Roof of the World”, with its proud and unique people has inspired and attracted travellers for centuries. Lhasa, spiritual home of Buddhism, still retains its allure even as modernisation changes the high plateau’s landscape with modern buildings and railways.

Guilin
Limestone peaks and rice paddies as far as the eye can see – this is the China of the classic paintings, best seen on a leisurely cruise on the Li River.

Hainan
China’s very own beach resort with a tropical climate, quality resorts and fantastic hinterland.

When To Go

Late spring (April, May)and early to mid autumn (September, October)are the most pleasant months to visit as temperatures are more moderate and nature is at its most glorious. The summer months, from June to August, are generally swelteringly hot and much of the country is very crowded. The winter months, from mid November till late March, are often bitterly cold and many sights close during that time.
The tropical island of Hainan in the South China Sea is the only year round destination in China. The Tibetan Plateau, including parts of Yunnan and Sichuan province are best visited in summer, from late June till mid September.
Xinjiang Province in the west of China and the bordering Central Asian countries are one some of the hottest places on the planet and are to be avoided in summer.
The Spring Festival (or Chinese New Year) in January or February and the Mid-Autumn Festival in October see several hundred million Chinese travelling to their hometowns and tourism grinds to a halt during these weeks.

Getting Around

Road Travel
Air-conditioned buses, vans and cars are available in the main tourist areas. Road conditions vary considerably and vehicles can be more basic in rural areas or during busy holiday seasons.

Train Travel
A well developed system connects all regions of China. Hard sleeper (6 berths, open compartment) and soft sleeper (4 berths, closed compartment) are available for overnight train journeys. Some luxury trains are available between major cities.

Air Travel
A good network of internal flights links many of the major cities.

Boat Travel
Ferries link the major island groups with the mainland and connect Chinese ports to other countries such as South Korea, Russia, Japan and Vietnam. Several cruises are available on the Yangtze, Yellow River, Mekong and Li River.

Tailormade Journeys Ltd

UNITED KINGDOM

25 Grangewood,

Wexham, Slough, South Bucks

SL3 6LP, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 1753 577 330

Mobile +44 7739 716 978

CANADA

6-1500 UPPER MIDDLE ROAD

SUITE 220

OAKVILLE, ON L6M 0C2 Canada

USA & Canada toll free Number: 1-855-9-526526

Email: great-vacation@btconnect.com

Holiday Destinations

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The packages which include flights and flight only bookings are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 9967
Company Registered in UK 528910
VAT Registration GB 867627084